New Delhi: 

BTS’ Golden Maknae Jungkook is no stranger to breaking records. But this time, he made headlines for an entirely different reason. The global superstar became the victim of a high-stakes cyberattack, losing a staggering $5.7 million worth of HYBE shares in a meticulously planned fraud scheme.

Jungkook’s military return date

Currently, Jungkook is focused on finishing his mandatory military service, having enlisted on December 12, 2023. His discharge is scheduled for June 11 and ARMYs around the world are eagerly waiting for his return.

BigHit steps in for damage control and security upgrades

Jungkook’s agency, BigHit Music, responded swiftly to the situation, freezing unauthorised accounts and ensuring that the stolen shares were restored to their rightful owner. In a public statement, the company reassured fans, stating:

“As soon as the company and the artist became aware of the criminal activity, we took measures such as suspending payments to the account and restoring the original value to prevent substantial damage.”

BigHit also confirmed that new security measures had been implemented to protect not just Jungkook’s financial assets but also his personal data.

Jungkook fights back

Once Jungkook and his legal team discovered the fraudulent activity, they wasted no time taking the matter to court. A case was filed with the Seoul Western District Court, and the court quickly ruled that the sale of the shares was invalid, recognising the K-pop idol as a victim of identity theft.

A second lawsuit was filed to reclaim the 500 shares sold to the third-party investor. Again, the court ruled in Jungkook’s favour, ordering the return of the stolen assets. Despite these legal victories, the hacker remains unidentified and at large.

How were Jungkook’s shares stolen?

According to Yonhap News Agency, the scam started in January 2024, right after Jungkook began his mandatory military service. With the artist away from the public eye, the hacker managed to open multiple unauthorized accounts in his name, setting the stage for an elaborate fraud.

One of these accounts was used to transfer 33,000 shares from Jungkook’s HYBE holdings—all without his knowledge. To make matters worse, 500 of those shares were sold to an unsuspecting third-party investor. At the time, the stolen shares were valued at 8.4 billion Korean Won (approximately $5.7 million).

On January 6, 2024, the hacker created three more securities accounts under Jungkook’s name, further manipulating his holdings. The sold shares were paid for in cryptocurrency, with the hacker receiving 20,000 USDT (Tether)—a move that made tracking the funds even more challenging.

Authorities suspect that this was no ordinary hack. The level of detail involved suggests that the perpetrator may have had inside knowledge of Jungkook’s financial affairs.

Whether this was an inside job or the work of a skilled cybercriminal is still unclear, but one thing is certain—the hacker knew exactly what they were doing.

This wasn’t just a random case of identity theft—it was a calculated financial heist that sent shockwaves through both the entertainment and corporate worlds. Here’s how it all unfolded.

Read More:

Raashii Khanna: A journey from aspiring IAS Officer to leading actor